The Seagull: Anton Chekhov's classic probes cross-currents of yearning and frustration among a group of artists in late 19th century Russia; notably a celebrated actress and her longtime writer-lover, and an impressionable ingenue and the young poet who adores her. When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 2:30 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sundays, through March 4; Where: Neuhaus Stage, Alley Theatre, 615 Texas; Tickets: $25-$90; Info: 713-220-5700.

The Coast of Utopia: Main Street Theater presents the southwest premiere of Tom Stoppard's Tony-winning trilogy, set in the 1830s-60s, chronicling a group of dissident Russian intellectuals chafing under the oppressive Czarist regime, each struggling in his own way to effect change. Shipwreck plays currently; Salvage (Part 3) begins performances Feb. 24, after which those two parts alternate through March 11; all three plays will be offered in repertory march 15-18; When: 7:30 tonight, 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday; Where: Main Street Theater, 2540 Times; Tickets: $26-$45; Info: 713-524-6706.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels: Jeffrey Lane wrote a clever book and David (The Full Monty) Yazbek penned some knockout numbers for this 2005 Broadway hit, the musical comedy version of the popular film. The plot? A gauche young hustler tries to horn in on a dapper veteran con man's territory as the two try to out-con each other in wooing/fleecing a wide-eyed American heiress vacationing on the French Riviera. Houston got the 2006 national tour with Norbert Leo Butz recreating his Tony winning star turn - and now Masquerade Theatre gives its team of Houston talent their chance at this light-heartedly mischievous material. When: 7:30 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays through Feb. 25, 2 p.m. Feb. 26; Where: Zilkha Hall, Hobby Center, 800 Bagby; Tickets: $35-$50; Info: 713-868-9696.

Endgame: Samuel Beckett's early classic of the avant-garde depicts a blind man, his moribund parents and his servant, and their tragicomic struggles amid a bleak, end-of-days landscape. When: Opens Friday; 8 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays through March 3; Where: Catastrophic Theatre, at DiverseWorks, 1117 East Freeway; Tickets: Pay what you can, except for Friday's opening night party, $50 (includes buffet and open bar); Info: catastrophictheatre.com

Oscar in the Box: Music Box Theatre celebrates Oscar season with a cabaret revue of scenes and songs that form a chronicle of cinema history. When: 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, through April 27; Where: Music Box Theatre, 2623 Colquitt; Tickets: $25-$35; Info: 713-522-7722.

Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs: Lured by the promise of seeing treasures from King Tut's gold-filled tomb, visitors to this touring blockbuster exhibit may wonder where the bling is during the show's first several galleries, which introduce pharaohs from 30 Egyptian dynasties spanning more than 2,000 years primarily through their depictions in statues. Not to worry: There's plenty of gold in the final room of the show's first half and throughout the second half, which begins when viewers pass through a replica of British archaeologist Howard Carter's tent and continues with objects found in each of the Tut tomb's rooms. But don't rush through the first half, which shows how gifted Egyptian sculptors were at carving intricate details into quartzite and other tough rocks. Instead of Tut's golden death mask, which is now deemed too fragile to travel, viewers get a look at the one found on Psusennes I, a 21st-dynasty ruler. When: Through April 15; Where: Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1001 Bissonnet; Info: 713-639-7300.

Perspectives 177: McArthur Binion: A new body of work from the Chicago-based painter. When: Through April 1; Where: Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, 5216 Montrose; Info: 713-284-8250.

Drive-By Landscape: On the Edges of Suburbia: Lillian Warren attempts to capture the essence of a place by focusing on the elements of infrastructure - that which we've been programmed not to see in the modern suburban landscape. When: Through April 29; Where: Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts, 6815 Cypresswood, Spring; Info: 281-376-6322.

Generation: Colloborative works in fused glass and solo works in papier-mache and mixed media by the duo Gene Hester and Liz Conces Spencer. When: Through March 1; Where: Archway Gallery, 2305 Dunlavy; Info: 713-522-2409.

The Other Side of Mark Bradford: Sculpture and performance art by the man known best for his contributions to the art car world. When: Through March 3; Where: Deborah Colton Gallery, 2445 North Boulevard; Info: 713-869-5151.

Berlin, Potsdamer Platz: Prints, paintings and combinations thereof inspired by the site of the German railway station by the same name by Magda Boltz-Wilson. When: Through March 10; Where: Redbud Gallery, 303 E. 11th; Info: 713-862-2532.

Chemtrail: Broadcasting to Unknown Points: Artist Kevin Jones creates a conceptual taxonomy of signs and systems by incorporating elements (if you will) of the Periodic Table, as well as a variety of media, including physical computing. When: Through March 10; Where: rudolph blume Fine Art / ArtScan Gallery, 1836 Richmond; Info: 713-807-1836.

Joel Shapiro: New Sculptures and Drawings by the renowned New York artist. When: Through March 31; Where: Texas Gallery, 2012 Peden; Info: 713-524-1593.